When God Is Small

The pain that man inflicts on man, Near constant since our time began. ‘Twas Abel by his brother killed, No proper view of life instilled. And ever since, we’ve spiraled down, Eschewing heaven, eyes to ground. Lex talionis, eye for eye, Creates a false sense of restraint; It certainly does not apply When we, aggrieved, don battle paint. For then we, every means, employ, Seek our opponent, to destroy. We feel a smug self-righteousness; We use the mouth to curse, not bless. We grasp not our imperiled state And blindly seek our lusts to sate. With our warped sense of justice bruised, We rage against an unknown God. With eyes now blind and minds confused, We reach conclusions badly flawed. We paint broad strokes, devoid of light, Expecting red from black and white. This is our lot; this is our fate When god is small and We are great. Until man sees these roles reversed, Darkness pervades, and we are cursed.